[*] Both anther-cells polliniferous; leaves mostly lyrately lobed or pinnatifid.
1. S. lyràta, L. (Lyre-leaved Sage.) Low perennial (10–20´ high), somewhat hairy; stem nearly simple and naked; root-leaves lyre-shaped or sinuate-pinnatifid, sometimes almost entire; those of the stem mostly a single pair, smaller and narrower; the floral oblong-linear, not longer than the calyx; whorls loose and distant, forming an interrupted raceme; upper lip of the blue-purple pubescent corolla (nearly 1´ long) short, straight, not vaulted.—Woodlands and meadows, N. J. to Ill., south to Fla. and Tex.
[*][*] Lower anther-cell wanting; the sterile ends of the connectives mostly united.
[+] Calyx obscurely bilabiate; corolla 8–12´´ long, with prominently exserted tube.
2. S. azùrea, Lam., var. grandiflòra, Benth. Cinereous-puberulent, 1–5° high; lower leaves lanceolate or oblong, obtuse, denticulate or serrate, tapering to a short petiole; upper narrower, often linear, entire; inflorescence spike-like, tomentulose-sericeous; calyx-teeth short, the broad upper lip entire; corolla deep blue (varying to white).—E. Neb. to Miss., Tex., and Col.
[+][+] Calyx deeply bilabiate; corolla 4–6´´ long, the tube hardly at all exserted.
3. S. lanceolàta, Willd. Puberulent or nearly glabrous, 5–12´ high; leaves lanceolate or linear-oblong, irregularly serrate or nearly entire, tapering to a slender petiole; inflorescence virgate spiciform, interrupted; upper lip of calyx entire, lower 2-cleft; corolla blue, 4´´ long, little exserted; style glabrous or nearly so.—Plains, Iowa and Neb. to Tex. and Ariz.
4. S. urticifòlia, L. Villous-pubescent and somewhat viscid, or glabrate, 1–2° high; leaves coarsely serrate, ovate, with truncate or cuneate base decurrent into a winged petiole; inflorescence racemose-spicate, of numerous distant clusters; calyx-lips divergent, the upper 3-toothed, lower 2-cleft; corolla blue and white, 5–6´´ long, twice the length of the calyx; style strongly bearded.—Woodlands, Md. to Ky., south to Ga. and La.
S. Sclàrea, L. (Clary.) Villous-pubescent, viscid, stout, 2–3° high; leaves ample, long-petioled, ovate and cordate, crenate, rugose; the floral forming bracts of the spike, tinged with white and rose-color; corolla white and bluish, rather large, the long upper lip falcate and compressed.—Escaped from gardens, Penn. (Nat. from Eu.)
S. verbenàcea, L. Pubescent or villous, 1–2° high; leaves ovate or oblong, often cordate at base, mostly sinuate-incised or moderately pinnatifid, the lobes crenate-toothed, rugose; the few cauline mostly sessile, the floral inconspicuous; raceme interrupted; calyx reflexed after flowering; corolla bluish, small, the upper lip nearly straight.—Sparingly seen in the Middle States. (Nat. from Eu.)